ORMOND BEACH
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 13, NO. 4
Seabreeze falls at home PAGE 6B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024
‘All of us must do our part’ School district, Sheriff Mike Chitwood, seek community engagement to combat rise in school threats. PAGE 5A
Airport landing fee proposed to offset $1M debt Local aviation community pushed back at the City Commission’s Sept. 18 meeting. Decision postponed.
Feeding future farmers Seabreeze FFA chapter raises close to $5,000 at its annual welcome dinner. PAGE 7A
JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
In an effort to start chipping away at the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport’s almost $1 million debt, a proposal to implement a landing fee was introduced to the City Commission on Wednesday, Sept. 18. But, as the local aviation community pushed back on the proposal, and officials discovered it had not been reviewed by the city’s Aviation Advisory Board, the proposal was tabled. The Ormond Beach airport has accumulated a total debt to the city’s general fund of $999,852, and it doesn’t generate enough revenue through its existing tenants to be self-sustaining. City Economic Development Director Brian Rademacher said the landing fee — $3 per arrival, per 1,000 pounds — was proposed by staff following the commission’s direction to reduce the airSEE LANDING FEES PAGE 4A
INSIDE CHARTER RULES
Volusia pushes rural boundary charter amendment discussion to March 2025. PAGE 5A
BEACHSIDE STATUS
Thriving hospitality industry boosts off-market hotel sales. PAGE 3A
OBPD CEREMONY
Ormond Beach Police swears in new officer, promotes three. PAGE 5A
Casey Jensen Gainey dishes out food to the people in line at the Seabreeze FFA chapter welcome back dinner. Photo by Michele Meyers
Celebrating Banned Books Week
CTJE hosts kickoff event at Fern & Fable. PAGE 3A
NEW BRUNCH SPOT
First Watch to replace Peach Valley Café at Granada Plaza PAGE 2B
Student audience Volusia County students attend Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young People’s Concert.
INDEX
Calendar...................... PAGE 1B Comics ........................PAGE 7B Cops Corner............... PAGE 6A Public Notices............ PAGE 8B Sports......................... PAGE 5B Real Estate................. PAGE 3B
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Ormond Beach recognizes OBPD Victim Advocate Evelyn Rebostini upon her retirement. Citizens for Truth and Justice in Education founders Laurel Robinson, Sheila Zinkerman and Jane Breslin at the Banned Book Week launch held at Fern & Fable Books. Photo by Michele Meyers
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